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-A.I30I=TEID     OCTOBER,     30,     187  J#. 


MANUAL 


CoitcpcyiTiDNyiL  Chuijch 


OF  CHRIST, 


Glencoe,  111. 


^JDOF-rrEx;}    octob£:e,   30      1, 


f- 


CHICAGO: 

H.  Willson  &  Co.  157  LaSalle  St. 
•1873. 


'-/ 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH. 


Regular  preaching  services  upon  the  Sabbath  were  commenced  in 
the  village  ot'Glencoe  but  a  short  time  after  its  incorporation  in  1869. 
For  a  year  or  more  they  were  conducted  by  transient  supplies. 

During  the  year  beginning  November  i,  1S70,  Prof.  S.  C.  Bartlett. 
who  had  become  a  resident  of  the  place,  was  invited  to  supply  the 
pulpit  three-fourths  of  the  time,  and,  the  following  year,  every  Sabbath. 
The  Communion  of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  occasionally  observed.  In 
the  Autumn  of  1S72,  the  conviction  had  become  deep  and  general  that 
some  closer  organization  was  required  for  the  best  interests  of  religion 
in  the  community. 

The  first  distinct  proposal  that  a  Congregational  Church  should 
be  formed,  came  from  members  of  the  Methodist  and  Baptist  commun- 
ions. Notice  was  given  on  Sunday,  October  13,-  1S72,  that  this  question 
would  form  the  subject  of  discussion  at  the  next  Wednesday  evening 
prayer  meeting.  The  meeting  on  Wednesday  was  well  attended,  and 
the  question  wtis  fully  discussed  with  absolute  unanimity  of  feeling  and 
opinion,  that  a  Congregational  Church  ought  at  once  to  be  organized. 

Several  members  of  other  communions  proposed  to  join  it,  while 
all  pledged  it  their  most  cordial  interest  and  co-operation.  It  was 
voted  to  proceed,  and  S.  C.  Bartlett,  S.  T.  Lockwood  and  P.  N.  Sher- 
wood were  chosen  a  Committee  to  arrange  all  the  preliminaries  of 
such  an  organization.  On  the  23rd  of  October,  the  committee  report- 
ed a  Confession  of  P'aith  and  Covenant,  together  with  a  Constitution 
and  By-Laws,  which  on  Wednesday,  October  30th,  were  discussed, 
accepted  and  adopted,  as  herewith  subjoined.  Opportunities  were 
given  for  any  persons  to  present  themselves,  who  might  wish.to  unite 
with  the  Church  on  profession  ;  and  two  persons  were  examined,  pro- 
pounded and  accepted. 


,     \^  u  '  to  meet  at  the  -Church  on  Tuesday  Nov.  12th, 

)  '...  mplete  the  organization.   The  Churches  invited 

v.ero  the  C<  ngregatnnal  Church  of  Evanston;  and  the  First,  Union 
Park  i.i  'itt  Street  and  Tabernacle  Congregational  Churches  of 
Chi.  j.,_,  ;ind  Profs.  F,  W.  Fisk,J.  T.  Hj  de  and  G.  N.  Boardman  of 
the  Cii.O'go  Theological  Seminary. 

The  Council  met  at  the  time   appointed,  and  after  a  full  examin- 

!    ationofailthe  circumstances  and  documents,  unanimously  voted  to 

{  proceed  v\ith  the  cu-tomary  exercises  of  organization  and  recognition. 
These  services  were  performed  at  7^  o'clock  in  the  evening,  as  followt. : 
reading  of  the  minutesofthe  Council,  by  Rev.  E.  N.  Packard,  Scribe; 
invocation  and  Reading  of  the  Scriptures,  by  Rev.  E.  F.  Williams  ;  Ser- 
mon, by  Prof.  F.  W.  Fisk;  propounding  the  Confession  of  Faith  and 
Covenant,  by  Ret.  Moses  Smith;  Prayer  of  recognition  and  conse- 
(!fation,by  Rev.%.  L.  Hammond;  Fellowship  of  the  Churches,  by  Rev. 

■    C   D    Heln-er;  Address  to  r.he  Church,  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Goodwin. 

i       •■  . 

I  The  following  persons  were   orgnnized    into   the   Congregational 

'Churrh  of  Christ  in  Glencoe  : 

iler: — From    the    Union    Park    Congregational    Church    In 
i    '.nicagu,   .-amuel   C.  Bartlett,    Mrs.  Mary    L.  Bartlett.  Edwin  J.  P.art- 
i    lett,  Miss  Alice  W.  Bartlett,  William  A.  Bartlett,  Charles  H.  Howard, 
1    .Mr^.  Kate  F.  Howard,  Samuel.  T.  Lockwood,   Mrs.  Juliette  P.   Lock- 
)    Avo^d,  Mrs.   Annie  E.  Nutt;  from    the   New  England   Congregational 
Church  in  Chicago,  Frederick  W.  Newhall.  Mrs.  Ellen  Newhall ;  from 
the  Forty  Seventh  St.  Congregational  Church,-  Chicago,  Henry  Willson 
Mrs.  Jane  Willson ;  from  the  Congregational  Church  in  D anbury, Conn.,. 
Washington   A.  Nichols ;  from  the  Congregational  Church,  Kenokha, 
Wis.,  Miss  Laura  A.  Newberry;   from   the   Congregational   Church  in 
Evan.ston,Mrs.  Carrie  L.  Daggett;  from  the  Methodist  EpiscopalChurch 
;m  Evanston,  Augustus  H.  Ilovey,  Mr.-^.  Alice    M.   Hovey,  Miss  Hattie 
M.     Hovcy,    Miss    Sarah     J.    Hovey,   Archibald    W.    Fletcher,    Mrs. 
'\Iizabeth  Fletcher;  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  Kenosha, 
VV  is.,  Porter  N.  Sherv--^'    M'-    Sarah  V.  Sherwood :  from   the    Pro- 
testant Episcopal   Ch.  i-ston,  Mrs  Jeanettt    C.   Starr.      By 
profession:!— Alexan del   'iairii    nd,  George  F.  Newhall. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Article  I.— Name. 

The  name  of  tliis  Church  shall  be  the  Congregational  Church  of 

Christ,  in  Glencoe. 

Article  II.— Government. 

Seo.  1.  The  Govern  men  t  and  aflFairs  of  this  Church  shall  be  co:i- 
ducteft  in  general  accordance  with  the  principles  and  established 
usages  of  Uongregationalisiu. 

Sec.  2.  This  Church  maintains  as  fundamental  principles  ofchurth 
order,  both  the  self  government  of  the  local  Church  and  the  fellowship 
of  the  several  churches.  While  amenable  to  no  other  ecclesiastical 
body,  and  acknowledging  no  Head  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  it  also  re- 
cognizes the  duty  of  seeking  the  advice  of  Councils  intheoiganlzation 
of  a  church,  in  the  settlement  and  dismission  of  pastors,  in  cases  of 
peculiar  internal  difficulty,  and  in  matters  of  common  interest ;  and  it 
heartily  proffers  its  Christian  sympathy,  commuuiou  and  co-operation 
to  all  other  bodies  of  true  believers  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Article  III. — Membership. 

All  persons  may  become  members  of  this  Church  who  give  credible   i 
evidence  of  regeneration,  and  who  assent  to  the  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Covenant. 

Article.  IV. — Officers 

Sec  1.  The  essential  oncers  of  the  Church  are  a  Pastor  and 
Deacons.     They  shall  be  elected  by  ballot. 

Sec.  2.  For  the  further  ordering  of  its  affairs,  the  church  shall  also 
appoint  a  Clerk,  a  Treasurer,  a  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School, 
and  five  Trustees.  These  officers  shall  be  chosen  annually,  but  shall 
in  any  case  hold  office  untill  their  successors  are  appointed. 

Sec.  3.  The  Pastor,  who  shall  be  expected  to  become  a  member  of 
the  Church,  shall  have  control  of  the  pulpit  and  the  exercises  of  pub- 
lic worship,  shall  preach  the  W  ird,  shall  ordinarily  be  the  Moderator 
in  the  meetings  of  the  Church,  shall  take  the  spiritual  oversight  of  the 
flock,  shall  administer  the  Sacraments,  and  shall  execute  the  discipline 
of  the  Church,  when  so  brdered. 

In  the  settlement  of  a  Pastor,  the  Church  shall  act  by  an  Eiitle- 
siastical  Council,  called  in  the  usual  manner:  and  such  a  Council  shall 
be  mutually  called  by  the  Pastor  and  the  Church,  to  act  upon  the 
question  of  his  dismission,  whenever  the  Pastor  shall  desire  it,  or  the 
Church  shall  so  vote  in  a  meeting  notified  on  t];>  pi-eceding  Sabbath 
for  thai  specified  purpose. 


Sec.  4.  The  Deacons  shall  aid  the  Pastor  in  the  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  shall  take  charge  of  the  communion  service  and  of 
providing  for  the  communion  table,  shall  have  the  oversight  of  the 
poor  members,  for  visitation  and  relief,  and  shall  assist  the  Pastor 
generally  in  the  spiritual  care  of  the  congregation. 

Sec.  5.  The  Clerk  shall  keep  a  faithful  record  of  the  proceedings 
of  all  business  meetings  of  the  Church,  and  shall  submit  the  same  for 
revision  and  correction  at  each  meeting  preparatory  to  the  commun 
ion.  He  shall  keep  a  register  of  the  Church  members  with  the  date  of 
their  reception  and  of  their  removal,  and  a  record  of  all  baptisni.  He 
shall  issue  letters  of  dismission  voted  by  the  Church,  keep  on  file  all 
important  correspondence,  all  written  official  reports,  and  all  other 
valuable  papers  of  the  Church,  shall  audit  the  accounts  of  the  Treasur- 
er, and  shall  make  an  annual  report. 

Sec.  6.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  the  funds  of  the  Chureh ;  the 
charitable  contributions,  he  shall  dispense  under  the  direction  of  the 
Deacons;  the  benevolent  contributions  he  shall  forward  to  their  res- 
pective destinations ;  and  the  funds  for  the  support  of  the  Church  he 
shall  disburse  upon  the  order  of  the  Trustees,  and  shall  make  an  annu- 
al report  to  the  Church. 

Sec.  7.  The  Trustees  shall  see  that  they  are  legally  incorporated 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  State ;  shall  hold  the  property  of  the  Church 
manage  its  pecuniary  aftairs,  superintend  the  raisin^  of  the  minister's 
salary,  provide  for  the  incidental  expenses,  subject  always  to  the  gen- 
eral rules  and  the  directing  vote  of  the  Church,  but  having  no  power  to 
buy,  sell,  mortgage,  or  transfer  property,  without  a  specific  vote  of 
authority  by  the  Church,  at  a  meeting  which  has  been  notified  on  two 
preceding  Sabbaths ;  and  shall  make  an  annual  report  of  their  doings 
to  the  Church.  A  minority  of  the  Trustees  may  be  chosen  from  those 
who  are  not  members  of  this  Church. 

Sec.  8.  The  Pastor  and  Deacons  shall  constitute  a  Prudential 
Committee  of  the  Church.  Their  duty  shall  be  to  confer  together  con- 
cerning the  interests  and  wants  of  the  Church,  to  watch  for  its  purity, 
to  inaugurate  measures  needed  for  its  welfare,  to  transact  such 
business  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  assigned  to  them  by  vote 
of  the  Church,  and  in  general  to  care  for  those  matters  of  common 
concern,  which  might  otherwise  be  neglectetl. 

Sec.  9/  The  Prudential  Committee  and  Sabbath  School  Superin- 
tendent, shall  constitute  an  executive  Committee  of  the  Sabbath  School. 
They  shall  decide  upon  its  management,  anange  for  its  officers  and 
exercises,  and  have  special  charge  of  its  interests,  subject  at  all  times 
to  a  directing  vote  of  the  Church. 

Article  V.— Discipline. 
Sec.  1.     The  rule  of  discipline  is  the  law  of  Christ  recorded  in  Matt. 
xviii.  15-17. 


Sec.  2.  Discipline  may  consist  in  admonition,  suspension,  public 
withdrawal  of  fellowship,  or  excommunication. 

Article  VI. — Ordinances. 

Sec.  1.  This  Church,  while  retaining  tlie  method  of  baptism 
practiced  by  the  Congregational  Churches,  will  respect  both  in  theory 
and  in  practice,  the  preferences  of  any  i)ersons,  whose  conscientious 
convictions  may  hold  them  to  other  modes  of  baptism. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  christian  parents  in  regular 
Church  standing,to  consecrate  their  households  to  the  Lord  in  baptism. 

Sec.  3.  The  invitation  to  the  Lord's  Supiier  shall  be  extended  to 
members  of  i»ther  Evangelical  churches  in  good  standing. 

Article  VI  I.— Amendments  and  Bv-LAVirs. 

Sec.  1  This  Constitution, the  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Covenant 
may  be  altered  by  a  vote  of  three-fourths  of  the  members  present  and 
voting,  at  an  Annual  Meeting.or  at  a  meeting  called  specially  for  that 
purpose  by  notice  four  weeks  previously  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sab- 
bath, provided  that  the  substance  of  the  proposed  alteration  shall  have 
been  publicly  given  in  writing  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sabbath  four 
weeks  previously,  and  provided  also  that  the  change  does  not  infringe 
upon  the  doctrines  or  organicmincipl^  of  the  Churcl^ 

Sec.  3.  By-Laws,  to  carry  outftuis  Constitution,  ftiay  be  enacted 
at  any  regular  business-meeting.    ^ 

CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 


Accepting  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  as  the 
Word  of  God  and  the  only  infallible  rule  of  religious  faith  and  practice, 
we  confess  our  faith  in  the  one  living  and  true  God,  revealed  as  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost;  the  Creator  and  Preserver  of 
all  things,  whose  purposes  and  providence  extend  to  all  events,  and 
whose  righteous  government  is  over  all  his  creatures. 

We  believe  that  man  was  created  upright ;  that  he  sinned  and  fell ; 
and  that  in  consetiuence  of  the  Fall,  all  mankind  in  their  natural  state 
are  alienated  from  God,  without  holiness, and  under  the  condemnation  of 
the  Divine  law. 

We  believe  that  .Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  having  taken  upon 
himself  our  nature,  has  by  his  voluntary  sufferings  and  death,  made  an 
atonement  for  the  sins  of  the  world  ;  that  salvation  is  freely  offered  to 
all ;  and  that  all  who  truly  repent  and  believe  in  Christ  Avill  be  pardon- 
ed, justified  and  saved. 

We  believe  that  all  who  are  thus  justified  through  faith  in  Christ, 
are  first  renewed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  according  to  the  eternal  purpose 
of  God,  and  will  owe  their  preservation  in  holiness  and  their  final  sal- 
vation to  grace  alone. 


Yv'e 'lolieve  that  tht  ,j\oral  law  of  God  remains  in  fuUfoJce  as  a 
rule  of  ilui,y,  and  tlia.a  lo  e^eit  heart  will  show  itself  in  the  acts 
and  duties  of  an  obedient  .lur  uo!y  life. 

We  hc!iev(!  (Ijat  the  Chrisiian  S^abbath,  the  Ministry  of  the  Word, 
the  Visihk'  CIiu.'tIi,  and  the  Ovdiaauces  of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Supper,  are 'liviie I y  appointed,  and  an-  binding  on  the  followers  of 
Christ  until  hi?  eomiug. 

We  believe  that  there  will  be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead  and  a  day 
of  judgment,  when  every  one  will  give  account  of  the  deeds  done  in 
the  body;  and  that  the  wicked  will  go  away  into  everlasting  punish- 
ment, and  the  righteous  into  life  eternal. 

Do  you  thus  solemnly  profess  to  believe  ? 

[  The  Pastor  ivill  address  those  who  ■■■a/jte  by  profession,  and  who  have 
been  baptized  in  infancy,  as  folloius  :'\ 

Do  you,  wlio  were  baptized  in  your  infancy,  now  accept  that  bap- 
tism as  the  sign  o.'  your  present  faith  in  Christ  aud  tlie  seal  of  your 
covenant  with  (^..m  ? 

.'■';//«,':'/',(/    to    those    loho     have    not    been 

COVENANT. 


You  do  now,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  mfn,  solemnly  declare  the 
Lord  Jehovah,  the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  be  your 
God  and  portion  forever,  accepting  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  only 
Saviour,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  as  your  Sanctifier,  Comfprter  and  Guide. 
You  humbly  and  cheerfully  devote  yourself  to  God  in  the  everlasting 
covenant  of  his  grace,  You  consecrate  all  your  powers  and  faculties 
to  his  service  and  glory,  and  relying  upon  the  promised  aid  of  the 
Holy  Spirit,  you  engage  to  walk  in  all  the  statutes  and  ordinances  of 
the  Lord;  to  assemble  yourself  with  his  people foj- his  worship ;  to  keep 
holy  his  Sabbatli  day;  to  maintain  secret  prayer  and  promote  family 
worship;  to  lead  a  life  of  piety  toward  God  and  benevolence  toward 
man ;  to  seek  the  lionor  of  Christ's  name  and  the  interests  of  his  king- 
dom; and,'  denying  ungodliness  and  evej-y  wordly  lust,  to  live  soberly, 
righteously  and  godly  in  this  world. 

\_17io:'i'  rreciTcd  by  letter  will  /ere  come  foriuard  .1 

You  do  now  cordially  join  yourself  by  Covenant  to  this  Church  of 
Chi'ist  solemnly  engaging  to  submit  to  itsgoveiument  and  the  discipline 
which  Christ  has  appointed;  to  strive  earnestly  for  its  peace,  edifica- 
tion and  purity;  and  to  walk  v/ith  its  members  iu  fraternal  love, faith- 
fulness, circumspection,  meekness  and  sobriety. 

[Here  the  members  of  ihc  Church  will  rise^\ 


We,  tlien,  the  mcujbers  ol  tliischunliof  Christ  do  no\y  receive  you 
into  onr  comiounion,  and  (nonnseto  \\atch  ov'cry(»u  with  Christian 
afFectioii  stid  ■tenderness,  o\er  treating  you  in  love  as  a  member  of  the 
body  of  Chnst,  Mho  is  Hea  I  over  all  things  to  tho  church. 

This  we  do,  implorins-'the  Great  Siieiiherd  of  Israel,  bur  Lord  and 
Kedcemer,  that  we  and  you  may  havt;  uisdom  and  grace  to  he  faithful 
in  his  covenant,  and  to  glorify  hiin  with  the  holiness  which  bwometh 
His  house  forever. 

"Tlie  Lord  Idcss  yoa  arid  keep  you;  the  Lord  jn:ike  hU  faceshino 
upon  you  and  he  gracious  unto  you;  the  Lord  lift  uj>  his  cuuntenance 
upon  you,  and  give  you  peace. "    Amen  ! 


BY-J^AWS. 


Article  L — Membership. 

Sec.  1.  Persons  desirous  of  becoming  member,?  of  this  Church 
upon  profession  of  their  faith,  shall  be  examined  oraliy,  or  by  a  written 
account  ol'  their  religious  experience,  in  the  presence  of  the  t  iiurch,  at 
any  regularly-called  meeting,  as  to  their  religioius  history  and  their 
present  Christian  experience.  If  the  examination  be  deemed  satis- 
factory, their  names  s^all  be  publicly  announced  on  the  Subbath  pre- 
ceding the  Communion  Sabbath,  the*ote  of  the  Church  upon  their 
reception,  shall  be  taken  at  the  ChurA  meeting  preparatory  to  the 
Communion,  and  they  shall  be  receive!  into  fellowship  on  the  Com- 
munion Salibath,  by  publicly  assenting  to  the  Confession  of  Faith,  re- 
ceiving baptism,  ( unless  previously  baptizeil,)  and  entering  into 
Covenant.  In  special  cases  the  Church  may  however,  by  vote,  instruct 
the  Pastor  and  Deacons  to  examine  candidates  ill:  private,  and  report 
the  substance  of  the  examination  to  the  Church  for  action. 

Sec.  2.  jNIembers  of  othe  Evangelical  Churches,  applying  for  ad- 
mission by  letter,  may  be  received  by  vote  of  the  Church,  and  by  public- 
ly assenting  to  the  Confession  of  Faith  and  Covenant.  It  is  the  right 
and  privilege  of  the  Church  to  seek  acquaintance  with  the  Ch  istian  life 
of  such  applicant  members,  by  asking  for  a  narrative  of  theii-  religious 
history. 

Sec.  :>.  Letters  of  dismission  to  Evangelical  Churches  shall  be  given 
by  vote  ol  the  Church,  to  all  members  in  good  and  unimpeachable  stand- 
ing ^^ho  desire  them.  Members  who  remove  their  residence  beyond 
the  reach  of  this  Church  should,  ifpracticaldeat  once  transfer  their  re- 
lation to  some  other  Church.  If  such  do  not  apidy  for  letters  within 
one  year  from  the  time  of  leaving,  satisfactory  reasons  must  be  given 
for  the  delay  of  the  application,  before  the  disnnssion  will  be  granted. 


Article  II. — Business  Meetings. 

Sec.  1.  There  shall  be  an  Annual  Business  Meeting  of  the  Church 
on  the  third  Wednesday  in  December  of  each  year,  at  which  the  follow- 
ing business  shall  be  transacted :  1.  Reports  of  Officers— (a)  Clerk's  Re- 
port; (b)  Treasurer's  Report ;(c)  Report  of  S.S.  Superintendent;  (d)  Re- 
port of  the  Trustees;  (e)  Report  of  Prudential  Committee.  2.  Election 
of  Officers.     3.  Miscellaneous  Business. 

Sec.  3.  The  ordinary  and  regular  business  meeting  of  the  Church, 
shall  be  upon  the  first  Wednesday  of  each  month ;  but  business  may  be 
transacted  at  any  regular  meeting  of  the  Church,  or  at  a  special  meet- 
ing called  from  the  pulpit  on  the  preceding  Sabbath  by  the  Officers  of 
the  Church,  or  by  tne  written  request  of  five  adult  members  of  the 
Church. 

Sec.  3.  Deacons  shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  three  years.  The 
Pastor,  when  installed  by  Council,  shall  hold  office  until  regularly  dis- 
missed by  Council.     Other  officers  shall  be  elected  annually. 

Sec.  4.  A  vacancy  in  the  Pastoral  office  is  to  be  filled  only  after 
careful  inquiry  and  prayerful  deliberation.  Vacancies  in  the  office  of 
Deacon,  may  be  filled  at  any  regular  business  meeting,  after  a  notice 
given  four,  weeks  previously  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sabbath;  other 
vacancies  may  be  filled  at  any  regular  business  meeting,  after  notice 
given  on  the  previous  Sabbath. 

Sec  5.  In  the  transaction  of  business,  this  Church  will  be  governed 
by  the  established  rules  of  parlimentary  proceedings. 

Article  III. — Stated  Religious  Services. 

Sec.  1.  Besides  the  regular  services  of  the  Sabbath,  the  Church 
will  hold  a  prayer  meeting  ordinarily  on  Wednesday  evening  of  each 
week. 

Sec  2.  The  Sacr|ment  of  the  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  adminstered 
upon  the  first  Sabbath  of  January,  March,  May,  July,  September  and 
November.  Preparatory  services  shall  be  held  at  such  time  as 
the  Pastormay  deem  most  suitable.  In  connection  with  each  Com- 
munion service,  a  special  collection  shall  be  taken  to  aid  the  poor  of 
the  Church,  and  for  other  purposes. 

Sec  2.  A  monthly  concert  of  prayer  for  the  conversion  of  the  world 
shall  be  observed  upon  the  first  Sunday  evening  of  each  month,  at  the 
close  of  which  a  collection  shall  be  taken  for  Missionary  purposes. 

Sec  4.  Contributions  shall  be  solicited  in  the  Congregation  for  the 
leading  objects  of  Christian  beneficence,  according  to  a  schedule  adopt- 
ed by  the  Church  from  time  to  time. 

Sec.  5.  In  the  absence  or  lack  of  a  Pastor,  the  supply  of  the  Pulpit 
shall  be  provided  for  by  the  Prudential  Committee,  subject  at  any  time 


to  a  directing  vote  of  the  church.  But  no  person  shall  be  employed  as 
a  supply  for  a  longer  period  than  three  months,  without  a  vote  of  the 
church. 

Sec.  6.  The  Superintendence  and  control  of  the  Sacred  Music  con- 
nected with  the  Sabbath  services,  shall  be  under  the  charge  of  the 
Prudential  Committee,  subject  to  the  direction  of  the  Church.  But  no 
expenses  shall  be  incurred  by  them  for  the  purpose,  except  as  author- 
ized by  the  Trustees  or  directly  by  vote  of  the  Church." 

Article  IV. — Discipline. 

Sec.  1.  While. every  member  of  the  Church  is  alike  under  obligation 
to  watch  and  to  labor  for  its  purity,  it  shall  be  a  special  duty  of  the 
Prudential  Committee  to  secure  its  effectual  discipline. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  deemed  orderly  for  any  member  who  has  failed 
in  the  effort  privately  to  rectify  a  Church  offence,  to  make  known  the 
fact  first  to  the  Prudential  Committee.  If,  however,  they  shall  fail  to 
give  attention  to  the  case,  it  shall  be  his  right  and  duty  to  bring  it  in 
person  before  the  Church. 

Sec.  o.  In  presenting  the  case  to  the  Church,  aggrieved  persons 
must  state  their  charges  in  writing.  If  the  Church  vote  to  entertain  the 
complaint,  they  will  then  appoint  a  time  for  hearing  of  the  case, 
and  summon  the  accused  to  be  present  to  take  his  trial,  furnishing  him 
with  a  written  copy  of  the  charges,  and  the  names  of  the  witnesses 
relied  on  for  proof,  at  least  a  week  before  the  trial. 

Sec.  4.  Upon  the  trial  the  accused  Aay  call  to  his  aid  any  member 
of  the  Church ;  in  case  of  his  non-appearance,  a  member  shall  be 
appointed  to  defend  his  case.  The  confession  of  the  accused,  or  the 
testimony  of  two  witnesses,  or  that  which  is  fairly  equivalent,  shall  be 
requisite  for  conviction. 

Sec.  5.  Excommunication  or  withdrawal  of^ellowship,  shall  be 
publicly  announced. 

Sec.  6,  An  excommunicated  person  may,  upon  evidence  of  repent- 
ance, confession  of  sin,  and  reformation  of  his  conduct,  be  re-admitted 
to  the  Church  on  profession. 

Article  V. — Ecclesiastical  Connection. 

This  Church  will  place  itself  in  the  customary  connection  with  the 
Association  or  Conference  of  Congregational  churches. 

Article  V  I. — Alterations  and  Amendments. 

These  by  laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  any  regular  business 
meeting  of  the  church,  notice  of  the  proposed  change  havingbeen  given 
publicly,  at  least or\e  month  previously,  and  also  announced  the  Sab- 
bath next  preceding  the  meeting. 


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